A few things we've learned about Sunflower in this first month of our acquaintance:

She's very girlie.  I didn't think babies had gender specific cries, but she cries like a girl!  She has the pain tolerance of a girl, is full of drama, bats her eyes and gestures like a girl!  Amazing how God makes us women and men, and those precious distinctions are clear even at birth.
Sometimes, she still looks scared, and a little apprehensive.  She cries if she can't see me.  Five different care takers in 6 months of life would make anyone a little apprehensive, I'm sure.
She laughs when you tickle her tummy and loves cereal and baby food.  Even peas.  She came home a little hungry after all!
She smiles spontaneously and crinkles her nose in a real hammy sort of way.
She's broken in one tooth since she's been home and is working hard on some others.
She loves books and her big brother J.  She still gives C. questionable looks, but he'll win her over.  He wins everyone over! :)
She melts Daddy with the slightest grin or whimper!  And I think she's pretty awesome too!   If you scroll down to pics of her in Africa a month ago and then look at these pictures, well... isn't she amazing?!  Girlie or not, I love a strong girl with a determination to live abundantly!

Grandparents note: These pics were posted in their original loading order, so they should enlarge if you click on them.

Happy Birthday, C!

This video was taken about a week after Sunflower came home.  C. was wearing one of J.'s Philippines tee-shirts.  It says, "Mabuhay" on the front, which means, "Hello" in Tagalog. Instinctively, C. went into Sunflower's room, got her Ethiopian drum, and began to sing and dance his "Mabuhay!" song to her!  He was really jamming before I got the video camera, but you get the idea.  C. is our exuberant one who always wants everyone to feel welcome and at home!

Furthermore on C., I knew there would come a time, maybe when he turned twelve, when C.'s clothes would fit me.  However, I was not prepared for Tim to fold the laundry just before C.'s THIRD birthday and ask, "Is this yours or C.'s?"  Granted, I'm a bit small, and these sweats hit me at the shin, but really...THREE?!?!  (By the way, mine are black.)

And finally, C.'s funny lines of the week:

C.: Mom!  I wan' go Donalds!

Me: We don't have money for McDonalds tonight, C.

C.: I have money.

Me: You have money?  Where?

C.: Uhm...in Dad's pocket!

That's where I keep my money too! ;)

C.: Mom!  I want chicken nuggets. 

Me: You already ate, C.

C.: I know, but I want cookies.

Me: Cookies?!  I'm glad you're honest, C.  I love you.

C.: So then... can I have cookies?

(OK-I gave the kid a cookie; it's his birthday!)  Happy Birthday, C.  We love you!

First of all...

We LOVE this baby girl!!!
AND this little man who is proudly representing our middle-class-on-a-budget hot tub.

And of course this miracle who the most nurturing and kind big brother a family could dream of.  We're SO proud of you, Kuya!

Now you're probably thinking, "What great pictures!"  But watch what happens when we try to capture the same photogenic magic with all five of us together for the first time:

1. Good try, C.! 

2. Could at least 3/5 of us be looking in the general direction of the camera?  A lot to ask, I know...

3. "If someone would take this hat off my face....MOM... this almost could have been a keeper!"  Sorry, Sunflower...

4. "Yes, Dear.  I WILL open my eyes into the sun for this family picture!  I WILL open my eyes; I WILL open my eyes..."

5. Don't forget-when we're divided into groups of two or less, we take great pictures!

6. Seriously, we don't even like each other any more.  

7. But lest I speak too soon, we capture a more or less happy moment, and we really do love each other very much!

We're coming up on our holiday time of year with the boys' birthdays, Tim and I's 10 year anniversary and his birthday within 2 weeks of each other.  We hope your Labor Day season is just as joyous!

Is this the same baby??? She couldn't do ANY of this 2 weeks ago!

I've been home less than TWO WEEKS, and already I can jump like a kangaroo in my jumperoo!  In fact, I try to jump ALL THE TIME now, but Mommy and Daddy don't make elephant sounds and light up when I jump in their arms.  You'd think they could humor me at least occasionally...

Look, Aunti Robyn!  No more turtle neck!  "Franklin" is soooo last week's nickname! :)  I've gained TWO POUNDS since I met Mommy two weeks ago!

I'm strong enough to push up with my arms now too.

I can sit in Daddy's lap and hold my head steady and not fall forward.

My legs don't collapse from underneath me anymore when I put pressure on them.  I'll even stand when people hold me for a second or two!

And the doctor says that I don't need surgery!  So far, the tests show that soy formula, a little medicine, getting upright and mobil, and a lot of one-on-one love and attention will fix my tummy, get me baby chubby, and caught up developmentally.  Unless this week's tests show otherwise, give me another month and I'll look and act like any other baby my age!

I'm not too sure about these two yet.  But Daddy finished their swing set this week (They say, "Thank you, Lola!!!"), so they can be loud and crazy OUTSIDE while I adjust to this new life, new air, new food, new sounds, new textures, new heartbeats, new voices and language, new smells, new tastes and new love INSIDE without getting over stimulated.  They give me a lot of kisses though!  By the way, Mommy wanted me say that J. and C. picked out their own outfits this day; she didn't do that. ;)

First Pictures!!!

Oh, you want pictures of Sunflower, not me WALKING WITH ZEBRAS in Africa?!?!  AMAZING!!!

Oh, you want pictures of the BABY Sunflower?  Not African sunflowers as BIG AS YOUR HEAD!!!  Gorgeous!

HERE SHE IS:

A giggly baby on our way to the US Embassy in Addis Ababa to get her paper ready to come home.

Complete with her Ethiopia baby hat, mutual love at first site at the airport in the US.  She slept on his chest all night!
C.'s up to at least 100 in his "kiss my baby" account.   Isn't she stunning?!
J., as expected, is a super big brother and makes sure she has everything she needs!
Africa was a life changing experience, and I'll post more later once we all adjust at home.  For now, please pray for her.  She is smiley and happy, but very sick, as we knew she was at referral.  We have the first appointment at the doctor Monday morning to begin her medical care.  Please pray that the digestive/nutritional absorption problem she has can be easily identified and quickly corrected.   She is 6 months old tomorrow and though age appropriate in length, she is wearing newborn/size 1 diapers, has little strength and head control, and has yet to keep a bottle of formula in her stomach.  But by His grace, she has made it this far!  I am confident that through all of our prayers, God will heal her and by Christmas she'll be a very healthy thriving baby girl!  Blessings,

Changing Hands

I'm speaking at a women's conference here in a couple of months and had to have pictures of me by myself for the flyer.  I didn't have any of me alone...imagine that!  Anyway, hence the goofy photo.  It went about as well as the picture below: "No, C.-look here!  And smile!" 

Since I returned from Burma 10 days ago, the following have been accomplished:
1. Loving, dressing, feeding, educating, disciplining, cleaning and cuddling my two boys.

2. Un-packed (once my luggage came home after it's scenic route home)

3. Re-packed a suitcase full of aid for Sunflower's orphanage and transition home in Ethiopia

4. Re-packed a suitcase for me (clothes, a backpack, shampoo, etc...)

5. Started to pack a suitcase for Sunflower and realized we had nothing to put in it!

6. Friends sent clothes, and we went shopping to fill the empty suitcase with these bizarre tiny outfits that are pink with flowers and bows and lace on them. Nope-no blue bulldozers on these onsies!

7. Re-located bottles, formula holders, portable diaper changing pads, the diaper bag, diaper rash creme, pacifiers, etc... that was stashed away since C. quit using them.

8. THEN I packed Sunflower's suitcase. Might I say too, it is strange to pack a suitcase to check on a plane for a child that will only be a part of the return trip. "No, I really am allowed this extra free luggage. No, the baby isn't here NOW, but she's on the ticket-see? And she's coming home with me in a week, so she gets the checked luggage."

9. Tried to grasp the fact that we have a DAUGHTER coming HOME in a WEEK!

10. Painted, stenciled, hung curtains, and put up baby furniture in the nursery.

11. Filled out the DS-230 and the I-864 for my Embassy appointment in Addis on the 29th. FYI, if you haven't done your I-864, give yourself a week for this one; it's a monster!

12. Changed thousands of dollars into "Smaller bills, please, and all 2004 or newer in good condition" because that's all Ethiopia will change due to counterfeiting problems. Try it out-that sentence will make your bank teller smile too!

13. Re-confirmed tours, hotels, and transportation in Ethiopia.

14. Make 140 Thank You bookmarks for members of my church who supported the Burma mission.

15 Recorded a Burma end report on video at church for Sunday.

16.Found childcare for the boys while I'm in Ethiopia. Rachel, "Thank You" doesn't even begin to cover it, but "THANK YOU!!!"

17. Answered C. reassuringly, all 100 times throughout the day, when he says, "Mommy, I'M your baby C.  I'M a baby!"  (So far, he's adjusting the least to the idea of a new baby, but we expected that.  He's a little...well... some say spoiled; I say loved!)

18. Attempted to convince my body that it's noon when it's noon, not midnight.

19. Finished Sunflower's baby blanket; I'm putting the finishing ruffles on it as I type-

20. Did NOT capture "little mouse" that has decided to make our fireplace his new home. That's what we get for building a house on an old tobacco field...

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I leave TOMORROW for Ethiopia to meet and bring home Sunflower! Please pray for safety, smooth transition, and quick attachment on her part. She has changed primary caretakers 3 times (about to be 4) in her short five months of life, so attachment strategies are soon to be implemented to the fullest to help guarantee that she attaches to us as Mom and Dad and avoids any attachment related problems later in life.  

Did you know that once a child truly attaches to a caretaker, he or she can then easily (with time) re-attach to another caretaker? But if the child never attached to anyone (some say by 6 months of age), then he or she may never be able to attach to a caretaker. Attachment is related to brain chemistry and neurological connections; not just emotion.

So ,it is vital that she attach to us quickly. That's why we may say, "I'm sorry, you can't hold and feed the baby." Only her primary caretakers, Tim and I, the people she MUST attach to, will be able to meet any of her needs until she "gets" we are Mom and Dad and attaches to us. It's not personal; it's just part of adoption! 

J. had an advantage here because even though he came home when he was older, he had fully attached to his caretakers at the orphanage and was there for over a year before he came home. He went through grief and loss when he came home, but then easily attached to us. Though, we welcome your loving words and gazes toward her, thoughts, prayers, and even gifts! :) Thanks to all of you who have sent stuff in the mail and who have prayed for this process and for Sunflower's health to hold until we get her home and evaluated here.  It's almost over! 

Of course, I'll update when I get home, and once again, see you in 10 days!

Burma Nargis Relief-in short

Burma-Orphanage Day

These children from a Burmese border town showed up at a Baptist church in Yangon several years ago after their village was bombed by the Burmese government.  Seven years ago, the first time I visited them and did a VBS for them, they were still very much against Christianity. Most of them told their parents that they wouldn't convert to Christianity; they would remain Buddhist for them.  While in Yangon, the church is able to provide the children-mostly orphans- with 2 meals a day, shelter, safety, and some Bible lessons.  There is one caretaker for all 95 children.  At the end of the school year, most return to the border village to see their remaining family members.  A different group of children, and some repeats, return to Yangon when school starts again each year.  The ones who don't return escape to refugee camps in Thailand, are killed by landmines along the way, are kidnapped by the Burmese junta to become child soldiers or slaves, or die from sickness and disease.  The months they spend at the orphanage are their only opportunity to know Jesus before they return "home."

This trip, we were able to purchase school uniforms for all of the chilren so that they can attend public school this year.  We fed them lunch, and taught stories about Creation and Jesus for three hours.  We played games, sang songs, colored, made "lost sheep" bracelets with cotton balls, etc...  I emphasized repeatedly that they should share the story of Jesus with their family members back at the border village.  The children were full of giggles and delight all day.  It was wonderful.  I was brought to tears hearing them sing, "Jesus Loves Me."  I pray they remember this song as they return home and teach it's hope and love to their family members who don't know the Son.

We were also able to set up surgery for one boy's cleft lip (less than $100 to repair at a reputable hospital in Yangon), and we bought nearly a year's worth of pain medication for a boy who was severely burned back at his border village.  The burn left his arm disfigured and unable to straighten.  He needs several surgeries, but we just couldn't save them all.  Here's a couple more pictures of these children and this day. Please pray for these orphans and their Buddhist families in a very tumultuous land.  More pics and stories about other days in Burma-with displaced cyclone victims, in the Delta, with the local congregation, and aid delivery later.  Thank you to all of you who prayed and donated funds to make all of this possible.  The children thank you!!!

In the sunflowers with Sunflower on my mind...as well as a couple of other blessings.

This is the first time I've gone on a mission trip as a mom.  I must say it is a very different experience compared to how it was b.c. (before children).  Whereas before the decision to go where there were people in desperate need of physical or spiritual care was as difficult as deciding whether or not to wear shoes that day, now I have hesitation.  Should I be home to see that my kids have healthy, three meals a day?  Should I be home in case one of them skins his knee?  Should I be home to make sure my kids learn their memory verse for the week?  Well, yes I should.  But the fact is that I am.  I'm home teaching them that Jesus says to give food to people who don't have any; clothe people who are naked; tell people about Jesus who don't know him...50 weeks a year.  It quickly became clear to me that actually going to DO these things for a week or two a year was just as valuable of a lesson to my boys as talking about it.

One of my new all-time favorite memories is sitting in my bedroom with J. this week while C. was taking a nap.  We had suitcases and aid supplies all over the floor, and J. helped me organize, sort and pack everything for Burma.  He'd say, "Mommy, you need more toothbrushes.  People in Burma don't have any; they'll have stinky mouth!  You need more toothbrushes!"  We're a little opposed to "stinky mouth" around here! ;)  He sorted VBS coloring pages and said, "Kids in Burma don't know Jesus.  They can color this picture of Jesus.  Jesus is praying in this picture.  Do kids in Burma pray?"  He helped me roll up 142 kids' tee-shirts and said, "Kids in Burma don't have any clothes.  You have to go give them clothes, Mommy.  They'll get cold."  I explained that I'd miss him so much when I was gone, and reminded him that I'd only be gone 10 days.  I asked him, "Why is Mommy going to Burma?"  He knew, at 4 yrs. old, that the answer was, "To help people.  Jesus says to help and love people.  You'll come back in TEN days!  I want to go help people, Mommy."

He wouldn't have learned any of that just talking about the Great Commission and going over memory verses.

So with that insight, I have great peace about going "home."  Have you ever been somewhere, away from your actual mortgage address, and was struck with the overwhelming feeling of, "This is where my soul was made to be"?  I get that feeling in much of southeast Asia, but nowhere as strongly as Burma.  The smell of Jasmine and Frangipani, the sounds of chanting monks in the morning, the lime juice, tanaka on little girls' faces, the sunflowers that grow too numerous to count in open fields, the most peaceful, yet strong and resilient people I've ever met, my Buddhist friends, my Burmese Christian family...all of it together feels like home to me in a way this English major just can't find words to describe, but I'm sure it's close to how a baby feels in the womb.

Please pray that God use us going on this trip for His purpose, that many see His light through us, that we're kept safe, that the aid makes it to Burma and to those who need it, and that those left behind-an amazingly supportive husband and two little boys in America and a baby girl in Ethiopia especially-are flooded with peace and easy living while I'm away. See you in ten days!